The $80 bottles are a bit steep for me. The $55 bottles fall right about at my upper limit, but if I'm spending that much I don't want to just pick one of nine (!) different mash bills and just hope it's good. So which one of these should I grab? I tend to like older bourbons, I love Weller 12, loved EC18, and loved some of the EWSB bottlings.

I'm a big fan of their OBSQ and OBSV selections, if you can still find them. Otherwise, the standard single barrel is just about as good as you can buy for < $40, though like any single barrel offering, taste will vary between bottles.

"A man comes from the dust and in the dust he will end-- In the meantime it is good to drink whiskey."
-->WhiskeyWonka<--

Re: Which Four Roses expression should I buy?

I like the spiciness of the OBSK, but obviously these bottles very greatly from bottle to bottle. I had a bottle from the party source in KY and enjoyed it immensely. At the end of the day, hard to go wrong with the standard Single Barrel. I always seem to have one open on my bar at home.

The $80 bottles are a bit steep for me. The $55 bottles fall right about at my upper limit, but if I'm spending that much I don't want to just pick one of nine (!) different mash bills and just hope it's good. So which one of these should I grab? I tend to like older bourbons, I love Weller 12, loved EC18, and loved some of the EWSB bottlings.

I would say if you are just getting your feet wet with 4R's try the single barrel and or the small batch. You really can't go wrong with either. Some of the normal single barrels have been a favorite of mine. I have not had Binnys barrel proof SB's but I have had party sources SB's and the OESK has been my favorite. Read the four roses web site and the my describe each of their recipes and some general tasting notes.

Re: Which Four Roses expression should I buy?

Four Roses is different than other distilleries. Heaven Hill puts out one mashbill at several ages, so if you like one, chances are you will like another. 4R does several mashbills and several ages, so it's a bit harder to dismiss the whole or like the whole just trying one.

For instance I love yellow label, don't really dig small batch, and some of the single barrels are just OK. But I also rate an OESK one of the best whiskeys I've had to date.

Knowing that, here's my opinion: Try yellow label. See how it works for you, it's cheap enough. If you like the spicy sweetness, try the standard single barrel. See how it treats you. Take your time and explore gently, as your curiosity dictates. Remember, most of the 4R products are high rye, one of the highest if I remember right. Looking at my notes they have 2 rye contents, 35% and 20%. It may be that high rye, slightly younger whiskeys are not to your liking right now, or ever.

If you've tried Bulleit, you've pretty much tried the small batch, I think it's that similar.

Everyone's taste is different, the only thing you can do is try them!

Last edited by Young Blacksmith; 10-23-2012 at 16:46.

"this hobby is supposed to be fun. When it stops being fun, check yourself, because you're doing it wrong." Charles Cowdery

The $80 bottles are a bit steep for me. The $55 bottles fall right about at my upper limit, but if I'm spending that much I don't want to just pick one of nine (!) different mash bills and just hope it's good. So which one of these should I grab? I tend to like older bourbons, I love Weller 12, loved EC18, and loved some of the EWSB bottlings.

All of them.

Seriously, though, you can't go wrong with any of those, except for the F yeast ones. Stay away.

Re: Which Four Roses expression should I buy?

Personally, I prefer the SmB over the SB. The few bottles of the SB I've had have always been hot and one dimensional to me. Whereas the standard SmB seems to have a little more complexity to it. As for the more rare/special editions, I've only had the 2010 SmB and did not care for it at all.